Summary of Abuse Allegations against Fr. Joseph Bucolo:

In 1971, Bishop J. Carroll McCormick was notified that a 9 year old boy was sexually abused by Fr. Joseph Bucolo in the summer of 1970 during an overnight trip to New Jersey. According to an internal memo authored by McCormick, Bucolo admitted to the allegation when confronted by the Bishop. Bucolo apologized for a “moment of weakness” and denied any other such incidents. He was then sent to Villa St. John Vianney, a notorious pedophile priest treatment center in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, for an evaluation. The Bishop assured Bucolo that as long as he was cleared to return to ministry, he would be reassigned. Indeed, he was assigned to St. Anthony in Dunmore after his evaluation.

Bucolo continued in active ministry until 2002, when the Dallas Charter, signed by all of the bishops in the United States, required his removal due to his 1971 admissions of sexually abusing a child. He was allowed to retire voluntarily and given the honor of being named Pastor Emeritus of a prior parish.

In 2010, a man reported to the Diocese of Scranton that he was sexually abused by Bucolo as an 8 year old altar boy in 1954 or 1955. During a face-to-face confrontation with Bucolo, which was done at the request of the Diocese of Scranton, Bucolo admitted to the allegation and asked for forgiveness. The matter was later settled for $20,000.00.

Bucolo is still living and believed to be residing in the Scranton, Pennsylvania, area. He is 94 years old.

Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Scranton. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Pennsylvania, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Scranton now have legal options to recover damages due to a compensation fund created for victims. Contact us at (954) 641-2100 or adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com today.

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